What it does
Life pieces to masterpieces (lptm) is dedicated to the creative, academic, social-emotional, physical, and citizenship development of black boys and young men living in washington d.c.'s underserved 7th and 8th wards. Founded in 1996, lptm provides a 'home away from home'
Lptm's afterschool program, the arts and education mentoring program (aemp), engages eighty boys and young men ages 3-13 (elementary and middle school-aged youth participants), and 5-7 young men ages 14-18 (high-school-aged "junior mentors"), in an arts-based process that guides them to channel their life experiences through acrylic and fabric stitched collage paintings, original poetry, prose, oratory, movement, and music. Each colorful, sewn, acrylic-on-canvas collage illustrates a shared story and reflects their courage to create their own destiny - transforming their life pieces into masterpieces. Conducted five days a week from 3:00 - 7:00 pm, the program also provides rigorous homework assistance, tutoring, literacy training, and math skills development assisted by student volunteers from local universities. The result is documented evidence of improvements in mental health, academic performance, self-awareness, positive male relationships, and civic and social ability - which in turn help our boys and young men to believe in their ability to positively impact their own lives, their community and ultimately the world they live in.
Lptm's summer program, connecting communities across the globe, engages ninety boys and young men ages 3-13 (elementary and middle school-aged youth participants), and ten young men ages 14-18 (high-school-aged "junior mentors"), daily in a six-week program from july through early august, 8:00am-4:00pm. The program focuses on the study of a new foreign country each summer and incorporates three core strategies: 1) in-depth math and literacy tutoring designed to prevent summer learning loss; 2) promoting creative self-expression through the study of various art forms; and 3) developing global citizenship by discovering and exploring the cultural similarities and differences between our community in dc and foreign nations. Connecting communities across the globe builds on lptm's school-year focus of learning and growth in a safe, loving, and supportive environment; capitalizes upon the unique international opportunities available in washington, dc; and reminds our youth that they are global citizens.
Saturday academy (sa) provides between ten and fifteen high school students, ages 14-18, with academic support, college and career readiness training, black male development, leadership knowledge and skills, financial literacy, opportunities for creative self-expression, and public speaking practice to prepare them for post-secondary success. They also train for and prepare to serve as "junior mentors," supporting their younger peers in lptm's afterschool and summer classrooms. Over nine months, students meet three saturdays per month from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for 90 minutes of academic tutoring with college and professional mentors, followed by afternoon workshops critical to personal and professional success. Over the past decade, 100% of sa participants have graduated from high school and entered college or other post-secondary training.